The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-12
THE CONSULATE AT NAPLES
Rev. ]. C. Fletcher Tells Story About
American Officials at That City.
A Poets Grievance-HOw He Aired 1t. and
Sought to Get Even with Consul-The
Present Representatives and His Quarters.

NAPLES, Italy, Nov. 15.-In your issue of Oct.
%. 1887. you published special from Washing
ton abiding to the United States consulate at
Naples. Apropos of this 1 have story to tell
you about United States consuls in Naples. In
the winter of 1874 the 'Post of tho Sierras. |"
Joaquin Miller, was here. He was very quiet,
gentlemanly man in his bearing, and had none
of the eccentricites which the reports in the
newspapers had led me to expect By the way,
Mr.. Miller told me that he was born in Indiana.
SO let your next Indiana literary congress take
warning and not forget to put down Joaquin
Miller to the credit of the Hoosier State. One
day-one dreamy. sunny day-in January, 1874,
L went with small party consisting of Mr.. Mill
Ter and E. Cam phausen and his wife and daugh-
tiers. from Erie. Pa. to the classic shores of
Puteoli and Baa. Mr. Camphausen is a we'll
known lawyer of the city mentioned, and at the
time 1S74) was here for recreation and health.
Mr.. Camphausen was one of the young German
university mon who, in the European agitation
in 1843, struck for liberty in the fatherland.
Their effort for the me-beine failed, but they
have lived to Germany with many of the
reforms for which they contended, and for
which they were willing to give up their lives
At that epoch many of them were outlawed by
the rsactonary movement which succeeded
their abortive attempts, and they sought refuge
in the United States. 1t was this emigration
that brought to our shores Carl Schurz, aud,
amongst others, E. Camphausen. He was a
member of one of the noble families of Rhine
land-indeed, afterward, his cousin, Her Won
Camphausen, until he resigned. was Vice-chan
cellor of the German empire, and hence, ranked
in council next to Prince Bismarck. Our
Camphausen, disguised for the time being with
his native land. dropped the lyon" to his name
and buckled down to hard work at Erie. After
wards he studied law. and took his place at the
bar of Erie. The one fault find with him is
that he became Democrat, not of the offensive
partisan kind, but still, Democrat. He will,
however. find grace in the Journals eyes when
state that Mr.. Canphausen is a protectionist
Democrat.
need not detail to you the pleasures of that
sunny January day in 1874 the ride through
Puteoli and along the shores OF Baia. redolent
with the memories of the Apostle Paul, OF Pom
pey the Great, Julius Caesar, Caus Marius and
Cicero, for 1 wish to come back to my NUT
TONS" as the French say, and my ''muttons" in
this case are in connection with United States
consuls at Naples.
In 1876 Joaquin Miller wrote a novel People
about his poetry but nevertheless he wrote
it. 1t appears that he had a grievance and he
aired it. He had been very much feted at
Florence by another consul. James Lorrimer
Graham, who was a good fellow, but his
worst enemy, for the flowing bowl" his
weakness, and soon after death thu ccnse-
quence. Mr. Graham dined and wined Mr..
Miller; when the latter went further south. the
former sent down to Mr.. o. B. Duncan, then con-
sui of the United States at Naples, a letter
recommending MIR. d. to treat Mr.. NJ. in the
same prandial style with which he (Mr. G. had
treated the poet in Florence. Mr.. Duncan was
a gentleman of education, refinement and
means. He was Brown University man, with
an after-course at Berlin University. His
tastes were somewhat different from Mr.. Ora
hams. but no consul in Italy had done much
to the entertaining of naval officers and
others of his w-countrymen-indeed, he
spent about twice his salary during his years
residence in Naples He received Mr.. Miller civ
lily, but net effusively, and presume the con-
trast between Florence and Naples in a consular
aspect was very apparent to Mr.. Miller The poet
bided his time and in his novel. he brings in this
curious but significant sentence: "Do you
answers Immediately his own question: He is
a poor lean, hungry dyspeptc. He has a name
and that is all. l happen to know the
consul at Naples. He is a gentleman. and a
very learned man, but he has neither power
nor money. He is literally starved" The mo-
tive of Joaquin pronounced WhaekinG) was
very apparent, but when he writes prose he
should stick the facts, for, it can be seen
from what I have written that Mr. Duncan
did not lack money, and L can say the man
who here right royalty entertained at differ
H. Seward and exPresident Grant was not
mean man. As to his influence, man in the
consular corps here had greater, and to his
health. though thin man he was one from
whom the doctors drew very few fees. Whae
king had his grievance, but he was exceedingly
unfortunate in taking up Mr. Duncan
example of an American consul, who was "a
poor hungry. dyspeptic, who has neither power
nor money, and who Is literally starved" But,
in the name of common sense. what is the
grievance with that Washington special man
that he should fall foul of the Naples
sulate as be did your issue of the 23d of
Octoberl 1t has made people here open
their eyes wide on account of
of the Inaccuracies, for the special
repuolished in London and Paris. Your readers
have doubtless forgotten it, but it astonished
some of US. who live here in Naples. and know
the facts and for them and for truths sake
wish to correct some things. The special sent to
you from Washington purports to have been
the reputed conversation of "a gentleman who
has just returned from trip to Europe"
Amongst other things. he said: II found. every
where / went on the continent, that the consuls
of the United States were tucked away in dark
streets and dingy Offices. while the commercial
representatives of her British Majesty
al ways to be found in the most prominent
places" Now, l am acquainted with the consul
lates of Genoa, Leghorn, Rome and Naples, the
most important consulates OF Italy, and this
statement is literally untrue But let us hear
the rest Of this gentlemans story. He contin-
ues: ''In Naples. for instance, 1 found the rep
resentative of the United States tucked away in
a dirty little room a stable His Office was
furnished in the most primitive manner. He
had desk. few cheap chairs, a flag, a supply
of stationery and an assortment of govern
mental publications. I found that he draws
salary of $1,000 year, and that ne is allowed
$500 for rent and Office expenses. If he should
elect to combine his residence with his Office,
learn that he would be deprived of his rent al
lowance. Under these circumstances, l was not
surprised at the surroundings of the American
consulate"
Let me say first, that the present American
consul at Naples is the same T.. Camphausen
with whom. and "Whaekingr Miller, I went to
Puteoli and Baia that beautiful day in Janu-
nary, 1874. Next, let me say that there is no
such law which deprives consul of rent allow
ance 'if he should elect to combine his residence
with his Office" The only rule is that no more
than 20 per cent. of his salary shall be applied to
that part of his residence which he shall use
his Office. Mr.. Camphausen, like Mr.. Duncan.
is a man of means, and probably spends double
his salary in his mode of life. for he has resi-
dence situated in one of the most charming
parts of Naples. aud his office. mile away, is
located upon the broadcast, bright
est sunuiest street in Naples. But
as the special has been particular
to mention that consul has dirty little
otahlo o,ld tn hat